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The Village of Hamburg will mark the 130th birthday of the hamburger at Burger Fest on Saturday, July 18 from noon to 11:30 p.m. Located along Main and Buffalo Streets (Rte. 62) and in the Municipal Parking Lot, the festival offers something for people of all ages and interests. Distinctive food offerings will be found at The Taste of Hamburg which showcases samples of the best offerings of about 25 local restaurants.

The one-day festival includes live music (headliners are the Breakaway Band, 7:30 to 11:30 p.m.) in three locations throughout the day, children’s activities and inflatable rides at First Niagara Bank Kids Space; an arts and crafts show and sale, the KeyBank Car Show, the Magic on Main Street and the Labatt beer tent.

Live music begins at noon with Terry Buchwald as Elvis; Tom Stahl & The Dangerfields at 2:30 and Passion Works at 5. Rock ‘n Roll to the Rescue and Nickel City Road Show entertain on Main Street beginning at noon - Rock n Roll to the Rescue until 4 p.m. during the Classic Car Show hosted by the Rotary Club of Hamburg and until 4:30 for Mike Margerum. The Burger Fest Arts & Crafts Show is scheduled from noon to 7 p.m. along Main and Buffalo streets, sharing space with merchants and not-for-profits. The Car Show has 42 classes, including Corvettes to ’67 and Chevy to ’57, Best Car from Hamburg and Best Specialty Vehicle. Call Tom at 649-6800 for more information. Registration on the day of the show is $15, $12 if pre-registered. Enter onto Main Street from the Center Street side.

The festival celebrates Hamburg, N.Y. as the true birthplace of America’s favorite sandwich, the hamburger, at the Hamburg Fairgrounds in 1885. The annual festival is hosted on the third Saturday of July by the Rotary Club of Hamburg, the Hamburg Rotary Sunrise Club, the Town of Hamburg Lions Club and the Hamburg Kiwanis Club. Hamburg held its first Burger Fest in 1985 to mark the100th anniversary of the birth of the hamburger after organizers discovered a history book detailing the burger’s origins.

Frank and Charles Menches, food vendors who traveled the world’s fair circuit, and who have been credited with also creating Cracker Jacks and ice cream cones, concocted the all-American burger. Legend has it that the Menches brothers ran out of their usual pork sausage that hot, fateful day at the fair and turned to local butchers to replenish their supplies. When no pork was available, a butcher suggested ground beef. The Menches brothers purchased the beef, but added secret ingredients, including coffee grounds to create a unique flavor. The hamburger was born! For a schedule of events, vendor registration forms and other information about Burger Fest, please visit our website at www.hamburgburgerfest.com. Additional sponsors include Waste Management, Great Harvest Bread Co., Wegmans and Hamburg Gaming.

Donna Banach, Secretary, Rotary Club of Hamburg 2014-2015 attended her first Rotary International Convention in Sao Paulo, Brazil in June 2015. How exciting to personally meet John Germ, President-Elect 2016-2017 and his wife.

Rotary is focused on the following six areas:1. Peace and conflict prevention/resolution2. Disease prevention and treatment3. Water and sanitation4. Maternal and child health5. Basic education and literacy

Please join us in congratulating Jeff Kusche (25), Dennis Lalka (7) and Tom Johnston for their anniversary month of service to the Rotary Club of Hamburg! Tom celebrates 38 years of service this month!

Thanks to all who supported our Annual Breakfast with the Bunny through attendance and/or donating gifts, money or time. The big bunny couldn't do without the help of his bunny assistants! (See more photos on our Facebook page!)

Please join us as we celebrate our 12th Annual Breakfast with the Bunny on Saturday, March 28th, 2015 at Oakwood Manor, 2986 Lakewood Drive (across Hamburg Ice Arena). Seating times are from 9:00 am to 10:30 am OR 10:45 am to 12:00 noon. Tickets are $4.00 for ages 2 to 10 and $7.00 for ages 11+. PRESALE tickets are recommended due to limited seating. Please contact Lisa Avery at lavery23@gmail.com. Proceeds support local community organizations. Thank you!

GENEROUS DONATION Representatives of the American Gift Fund Louise Y. Mokadam Family Foundation present a check for $2,500 to the Rotary Club of Hamburg for the Warm the Children Program. Pictured from left are: Rotarians Earl Knauss and Liz Angelbeck, Bon and Chris Mokadam of the Foundation, and far right, Rotary Club President Dale Stanley accepting the check.

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world. This year, the Rotary Club of Hamburg marks its 70th year of service.

Rotary began in Chicago in 1905 when a businessman named Paul Harris formed a club with a unique blend of commerce and social consciousness. It grew to become Rotary International - the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million membersin 33,000 clubs in 200 countries or geographical areas today.

Our Rotary Club was chartered on February 24, 1942 in Hamburg and continues to provide service to the community through projects such as Warm the Children, which provides warm winter clothing for children in need; and funding for not-for-profit organizations such as the Hamburg Counseling Service, the Hamburg Paleontological Society’s Penn Dixie Fossil Site and the Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program. Rotary also funds a literacy program for children, provides college scholarships and mentors the next generation of community leaders through RYLA (Rotary’s leadership Program) for college-age young adults and SLAPSHOT for high school students.

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If you would you like to contribute to Rotary by serving on a committee, this is your opportunity. The nine committees listed below are searching for qualified candidates for openings in 2016-17. Each of these committee works with Rotary leaders to increase efficiency and promote the goals and priorities of our strategic plan.
To be considered for a committee appointment, go to www.tinyurl.com/ri-committee-application for an application form.
The application deadline is 20 August.
Learn more about the committees and the application process.
Get answers to frequently asked questions....